Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Brewer Lake’s buffer zone operates as a WMA

SPRINGFIELD – When Conway began mushrooming in population, leaders of the city-owned Conway Corporation responded with a plan for a long-range reliable source of water.

Cypress Creek in neighboring Conway County was dammed, and a 1,700-acre was built. The Conway Corporation had gone an extra step by buying land surrounding the lake for protection of water quality. These 1,200 acres are free of livestock grazing and other activities that have pollution potential, and the utility and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission soon reached an agreement.

The land could be managed for wildlife, including some farming of crops benefiting wildlife.

Cypress Creek Wildlife Management Area was formed, then Brewer Lake was added to the name after the 1981 dedication of the lake.

James H. Brewer, long-time manager of the Conway Corporation who had spearheaded the lake project, was surprised at the dedication ceremonies when his board of directors put his name on the lake.

The management area is a system of old fields broken up by fence rows. The area is primarily managed for quail, doves, rabbit, squirrel and some furbearers. Hunting is not allowed for deer or turkey.

The area’s wildlife habitat management includes a cooperative farm program with food plots for cover strips left around fencerows and edges.  Lands not under cooperative farm agreements are worked with a rotational burning and planting program.

The area has a variety of nongame birds and occasional bald eagles and other birds of prey. Some ducks and other waterfowl use the lake, but waterfowl hunting is not allowed.

Brewer Lake, extremely deep in places, has fishing opportunities for crappie, bass, bream and catfish. Access areas with launching ramps are on the north end and the south side of the lake. Fishing and hunting supplies are available in nearby Springfield.

Brewer Lake Cypress Creek WMA is near Springfield, northeast of Morrilton, northwest of Conway. Access is from Arkansas Highway 92, about four miles north of Interstate 40 at Plumerville.